The Stevens' of Sussex

The Histories

The Histories of the Stevens—Croot Family Heritage

During the pioneer days of Riverton, there were two branches of the Stevens family (though a recent find on the internet suggests the possibility of a third, the relationship of which is as yet unsubstantiated—see below.)

George and Richard Stevens were brothers, born of in Sussex in England, it is not known if there were more to the family as only the two have been cited in the histories of Murihiki.

George Stevens married the widowed Mrs. Howell when John was still quite young, and it is thought, set up home in a place called Burlington in Sussex. The Stevens’ had four children: William (1825), George, Ann and Elizabeth.

The dates are a little confusing depending on which account one is following, but it is generally believed that the family emigrated to Australia and arrived in Sydney around 1840 or January 1841 on the ship ‘Alfred’ under Captain Eastmore. The family took up a run in the Hunter River district but the life there was full of hardships. They had trouble with attacks by hostile aboriginals and the depredations of escaped convicts who were numerous in the area. Their troubles culminated with the sudden death of Mrs. Stevens.

Shortly afterward, Capt. John Howell arrived in Sydney with his new bride on his honeymoon and advised his step father to bring the family to Riverton. Howell arranged to have the family brought across in the whaler ‘Success’ commanded by a Captain Stirling. The ship carried George Stevens (snr), George (jnr), Elizabeth Stevens, John Paulin and his wife Ann (the elder Stevens daughter), and their infant child — Mary Ann. These events are recorded as having taken place in 1842. Ann and Elizabeth Stevens, John Howell’s half sisters, were the first white women to settle in Southland. The other Stevens son, William is thought to have come to Riverton separately in 1843 where he joined his half brother, Capt. Howell in the whaling industry.

On his arrival in Riverton, Mr. George Stevens (snr) was made manager of the marine store that supplied the wants and needs of the sailors and from all accounted the Stevens’ fared much better than in Australia, with each making a significant contribution to this fledgling community. The stories of the Stevens family of Riverton are well documented in the “Records of Early Riverton and Districts” first published in 1837 by the Southland Times Company.

Very little is known of the other brother, Richard Stevens, other than his presence in the Riverton community around the early 1850’s. His name is contained in a list of the settlers of those days entered as:

“Richard Stevens (an uncle of Stevens the whaler)”

It is assumed that the nephew referred to here is Captain William Stevens, later of Beaumont Station.

It is of interest that John Lidiard’s name is also include as being present in the community at that time. This is verified by an account by Edward John Stevens who told of how his father, Edward Thomas Stevens, came to New Zealand with his parents and two sisters on the ship “Royal Albert” in 1853.

One can only speculate as to whether Richard brought his family to New Zealand at the urging of his brother George, or whether John Howell had offered work to the family should they come to the community.

What happened to the rest of the family is indeed a mystery. Besides his son, Edward Thomas, there were also two daughters. No doubt each of these married into the community but to whom and when we have no account.

And what of the other Stevens family in the district? To see what we know so far, go to: A Third Stevens Family.